How to Get and Stay in Recovery from Addiction and Alcoholism

Yea, I’m a spiritual person, but I suffer from alcoholism and drug addiction.  As an Alcoholic and Addict, I fell prey to poverty, loss of family, loss of employment, hospital stays, being jailed and many other severe trials and sorrows. This is an alcoholic’s lot in life.  We are wired up differently than others and, although this fact qualifies us to be categorized as having a real disease, we still must take full responsibility for our actions and for our recovery.

I finally decided that I must apply myself to a spiritual program that directly addresses my tendency toward substance abuse as a coping/avoidance mechanism.  For me this includes regular attendance of AA meetings, taking a daily inventory and practicing the principles of a clean and sober life. I also have to supplement my diet with certain nutrients that my addictions have depleted in my brain and body.  Below you will find a free downloadable guide to withdrawal and recovery that addresses specific, practical aspects of staying clean and sober–for good.

What Happens After the Alcohol and Drugs Wear Off?
PAWS and how to deal with it.

I have found it helpful, especially in early recovery, to observe an enhanced diet that supports brain chemistry balancing and healing.  There is always the very real danger of relapse, some of this danger occurs because of the neurochemical changes that using substances cause in the brain.  This is sometimes called Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome or PAWS. I share some of this helpful advice with you here.

Disclaimer:

I am NOT a doctor and do not wish to present the following as a substitute for sound medical advice from a trained, competent physician.  It is always advisable to consult such a professional before embarking upon the difficult task of withdrawing from alcohol, recreational drugs, prescription painkillers or opiates in any form, especially if you find you need to try to do it at home and on your own.

This book is not meant to be a comprehensive treatise on the subject of addiction; it is simply based on my own personal experience of withdrawing and recovering from abusing most of the common substances to which we become addicted.

How to safely and successfully withdraw from Substance Abuse:
In general, I have found it impossible to sustain any kind of sobriety without following a program of rigorous honesty that has, at its heart, a firm foundation in a spiritual approach to developing and maintaining contact with a Higher Power, and performing service to helping other addicts who are still using…such as the 12-Step Program of AA.  Alcoholics Anonymous hasn’t worked for every recovering addict/alcoholic, but it has the highest success rate of any of the alternatives. During the course of my life, I have battled with addiction in many forms, and substance abuse, alcoholism and prescription drug abuse have been killers for me.  The program of Alcoholics Anonymous has been the greatest gift and has saved me years of suffering and possibly death from this serious affliction.

It is important to note here that most addicts die of their addictions in one way or another.  So the necessity for some kind of effective strategy and salutary practice is evident.  I, myself, have relapsed enough to know that AA works for those who work it.  However, it is not the only way to recover.  Others have found ways to stay sober, but most addicts/alcoholics relapse, no matter what method they try.

Relying upon one’s own devices usually sets the addict onto a slippery slope sooner or later.  This is the one approach I heartily suggest avoiding.  Get some support. You will want it and need it and may even find yourself benefiting in ways you could not have imagined once you get some recovery under your belt.

Alcohol Withdrawal

For alcoholics, stopping drinking can be next to impossible.  A stay at the local detox center may be necessary, depending on the severity of your problem. You will need to sweat it out for at least three days and more for post-acute symptoms, like anxiety and sleeplessness.  After getting the alcohol out of your system,  (which takes typically three days or so) a very good next step is to attend a local AA meeting and, at least admit to the group that you know you have a problem and want help.  There will not be a person in the room who hasn’t been right where you are; some will probably offer their direct support right away. You will want to have some contacts when a weak moment hits or if you want to ask questions about how to proceed in recovery. Get a Sponsor as soon as possible and start working the Steps. Just start going to meetings and some solid recovery will rub off on you if you keep an open mind and listen…doing your best not to judge.

A lot of really great material is out there on the subject of recovery from alcoholism, so mostly I will concentrate on the area of addiction recovery that I have found deficient in actual, practical and effective advice.

Opiate Withdrawal.

I have included a downloadable guide below filled with nutritional and practical advice to help with the difficult problem of recovery from prescription medications like benzodiazepines (sleeping pills) and Painkillers, Opiates.  Some of this information may be quite helpful to intravenous drug users as well.  I personally have not used drugs in this way.  But, I have experienced the agony of becoming physically dependent on prescription painkillers: benzodiazepines: Valium, Ativan, Ambien, Xanax, Klonapin, and Painkillers: oxycodone, hydrocodone in the form of Vicodin and Norco, morphine-contin, Percoset, and Tylenol 3 and 4. When taking these substances I invariably experienced an ever-increasing need for higher dosages within a very short time and many very serious and debilitating side-effects.

During the height of my sleeping pill addiction, because I had developed a tolerance to the drug, I was taking 10-12 sleeping pills a day…enough to sedate a horse.  With these substances, a slow taper was necessary…very difficult, but with the supplementation that I have outlined in the downloadable guide (below) I was greatly helped in this process.  I finally made it.  There are nights that I don’t sleep, but nearly everyone has some degree of insomnia occasionally, and now I just let it be.  I use my awake time to pray and read and usually, I am able to sleep again soon.

At my painkiller addiction’s worst apoint,  I was taking somewhere between 8 and 10 Norco per day.  I could not quit.  It was then that I realized I was in very serious trouble.  I tried tapering, but found that, because of the nature of the substance, I was never able to make any progress.  So, for me, cold turkey was always the only way to get off.  It took me two agonizing tries and then one more and ultimately successful, not-so-agonizing cold turkey period to finally quit…for good. The freedom I experience is well worth the pain I have to endure because of my damaged nervous system.  I actually feel better and in less pain overall, than if I were still taking narcotic painkillers.

Quitting painkillers and prescription drugs can be accomplished.  I’ve included a recipe for withdrawal at home that I have used safely (although a doctors supervision is always recommended). I found out certain things about quitting drugs and alcohol.  There are some pitfalls to look out for — especially, how to avoid falling prey to the almost unavoidable relapse associated with PAWS, or post-acute withdrawal syndrome that sets in when your 3-4 days of withdrawal from alcohol and the 5-7 days of withdrawal from opiates are over.

Get your free Downloadable guide to Recovery from Alcohol, Opiates and Prescription Drugs Here!

May your recovery be total, swift and filled with Happiness, Joyousness and Freedom!

~D. Y. (Oraea) Varis